Hydraulic intermittent traction device



April 23, 1963 N. L. BARLOW ETAL 3,086,518

HYDRAULIC INTERMITTENT TRACTION DEVICE Filed July 11, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS'P W/ZU/W (4245 BY #02414 1.54210 ATTORNEYSApril 23, 1963 N. L. BARLOW ETAL 3,086,518

HYDRAULIC INTERMITTENT TRACTION DEVICE Filed July 11, 19 60 2Sheets-Sheet 2 F4 INVENTORSH J 4 W/LL/AM CAR/L571 woe/m L. 5/1210ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,086,518 HYDRAULIC INTERMITTENT TRACTIONDEVICE Norman L. Barlow, 2090 Meyers St., Oroville, Calif., and WilliamCarash, Berry Creek, Calif. Filed July 11, 1960, Ser. .No. 41,819 8Claims. (Cl. 128-75) This invention relates to therapeutic tractionmachines 7 and more particularly to an intermittent traction machineoperated by hydraulic apparatus. 7

The particular machine disclosed in this application has been designedfor the therapeutic manipulation of diseased or affected joints,tendons, ligaments, or the like. In such treatment, the aifected part ofthe body is placed in traction. The tension is then rhythmicallyincreased and decreased to exercise and relax the body muscles.

Many devices have been designed for such purposes but none of them hasbeen fully satisfactory. For example, there are therapeutic couches onwhich the patient lies while undergoing treatment, the table beingfitted with suitable harness or other devices adapted to fit thepatient. Apparatus of this character is quite costly, removing it fromthe resources of the average practitioner and restricting it more orless to hospital use. In addition to being costly, such apparatus cannoteasily be moved or stored when not in use.

On the other hand, several small, relatively, portable devices have beendesigned for this purpose. However, due to the lightness and smallnessof these devices it has not been possible to achieve the smoothness ofoperation and versatility of use possible with the large machines. Theseportable machines all employ some sort of motor connected throughmechanical linkages to the traction harness which has the disadvantagethat it is almost impossible to obtain smooth, steady increases anddecreases in tension. Instead, the wear of the mechanical parts and theplay between such parts causes at least slight jerks in operation. Thesejerks when transmitted to a body member under tension can in many casescause such discomfort that the treatment is more harmful than helpful.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a portable machinefor applying intermittent traction to a patient in which the traction isvaried smoothly and at a constant rate. More particularly, this objectis accomplished by the use of hydraulic pressure applied directly to thetraction harness to vary the tension thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable machine forapplying intermittent traction wheree in hydraulic pressure is used toadjust the desired amount of tension on the traction harness, and inwhich the tension is measured by a hydraulic gauge rather than by aspring gauge interposed between the machine and traction harness asheretofore done.

Yet another object is to provide a machine as set forth above in whichthe height of the operating parts may be easily adjusted and by the samehydraulic means used for applying traction.

Still another object is to provide a portable traction machine as setforth above in which all of the controls are grouped together for easymanipulation by an operator.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the course of thefollowing detailed description.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, and in which likeparts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the same.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view, taken on line 1--1 of FIG. 2, illustrating afront view of an intermittent traction apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention, with parts shown in elevaion.

, 3,086,518 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken online 2--2 of FIG. 1, illustrating a side view of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a generally schematic illustration of the hydraulicconnections of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of the apparatus witha patient.

Referring now to the drawings wherein is shown a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the traction apparatus, generally indicated by thereference numeral 10 comprises a frame 11 having a base portion 11a andan upper portion 11b telescopically connected together for verticalmovement of the upper frame portion.

The base portion 11a of the frame is generally rectangular and supportsa motor 12 and pump 13 combination and a fluid reservoir 14 thereon.Casters 16 attached to the base portion permit the apparatus to beeasily moved to any desired point of use. Two upstanding tubing members17 and 18 are rigidly secured to the base portion 11a, and are supportedthereon by angle iron members 19.

The upper frame portion 11b comprises two tubing members 21 and 22telescopically received in tubing members 17 and 18 for verticalmovement therein. A frame tubing member 23 extends from front to back ofthe apparatus, being welded at its rear end to the upper end of tubingmember 22 and being rigidly connected at its front end to tubing member21 by a bearing block 24. A generally rectangular strap iron frame 26 issecured to frame tubing 23 and supports the upper cover 27 which dependsdownwardly telescopically around the lower cover 28 which is secured tothe base portion of the base. A vertically extending frame bracket 29,welded or otherwise rigidly secured to frame tubing 23, supports at itsupper end the control panel 30 for the apparatus. The lower end ofbracket 29 has rigidly secured thereto the upper half of a splitcylinder bracket 31.

Rigid links 32, also connected at their upper ends to bracket 29, areconnected at their lower ends to the elevating cylinder 33. Theelevating cylinder rod 34, secured to elevating cylinder piston 36 formovement therewith is connected at its lower end to the base portion 11aof the frame.

Bumper cylinder 37, rigidly gripped in split bracket 3-1, has a rod 38secured to the bumper cylinder piston 39 for movement therewith. Thebumper rod 38 extends through bearing block 24 and the upper cover 27and has a bumper member 41 on the outer end thereof for engagement witha hospital table, bed, or the like.

Traction cylinder 42 is rigidly secured to frame tubing member 23 bybrackets 29 and 43. The traction rod 44, connected to traction cylinderpiston 45 for movement therewith, extends out through the upper cover 27and is provided with an eye 46 at its outer end for connection of atraction harness thereto. The bumper rod 38 and traction rod 44 areparallel to one another and each passes through the vertical centerlineof the machine.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the intake 51 of pump 13 is fluidly connected toreservoir 14 and the pump discharge 52 is connected by a flexible hose53 to connector 54 and by conduits 55, 56 and 57 to the four-way valves58, 50 and 60. The discharge side of pump 13 is also connected throughrelief valve 61 to the reservoir 14.

The four-way valve 58 is a manually operable, rotating plug valvemounted on control panel 30. When the plug is rotated 45 in acounterclockwise direction from that shown in FIG. 3, valve passage 62will connect pump pressure through conduit 63 to the lower end ofelevating cylinder 33. At the same time, the upper end of the cylinderwill be connected by conduit 64, valve passage 65 and flexible hose 66to the reservoir 14. Pump pressure will then move the piston 36 upwardlyin cylinder 33 causing the upper frame portion 11b to lower itselfrelative to the base portion.

Rotating the valve plug 45 in a counterclockwise direction from theposition shown in FIG. 3 will reverse the cylinder end connections,placing pump pressure in the upper end of cylinder 33 causing the upperframe portion to be raised. When the valve is in its intermediateposition, as illustrated, all fluid flow to and from both ends ofcylinder 33 is shut oif, preventing any vertical movement of the pistonin the cylinder so that the upper frame portion remains at the height towhich it has been adjusted.

The four-way valve 59 is similarly manually operable and is also mountedon control panel 30. When valve 59 is rotated 45 in a clockwisedirection, valve passage 68 connects pump pressure through conduit 69 tothe left end of bumper cylinder 37 while valve passage 71 connects theright end of the bumper cylinder through conduits 72, 73 and 66 toreservoir 14. With this position of valve 59 the bumper piston 39 andbumper rod will be moved to the right relative to the frame to whichbumper cylinder 37 is mounted. A pressure gauge 75 is fluidly connectedto the right end of bumper cylinder 37.

The four-way valve 60 is a spool-type valve, and may be, for example,similar to a Douglas Aircraft hydraulic control valve #4267956. Whenvalve 60 is in the position shown, pump pressure is communicated throughconduits 57 and 76 to the left end of traction cylinder 42, and theright end of the traction cylinder communicates through conduit'79,valve 60', conduits 78, 73 and 66 to the reservoir 14. This pumppressure in the traction cylinder causes the piston 45 and rod 44 tomove to the right.

As traction rod 44 moves to the right, the reversing plate 81 securedthereto rides freely along reversing rod 82, which is secured to spool83 of valve 60, until plate 81 engages one end of spring 84, fixed atits other end by adjustment nut 85 to reversing rod 82. Spool 83 has twodetents 86 and 87 spaced axially along the spool to receive the legs ofhairpin shaped spring 88. The upper ends of spring 88 are securedagainst movement axially of valve 60 by bracket 89. Thus, when thespring legs are in one of the spool detents 86 or 87, the force of thespring against the spool will prevent axial movement of the spool.

As the traction rod continues to move to the right, the reversing plate81 builds up pressure against spring 84 until there is sufiicient forceto cam the legs of spring 88 out of detent 86. The spring force ofspring 84 then snaps the spool to the right so that the fiuidconnections to the ends of the traction cylinder 42 are abruptlyreversed. The spool is held in this position by the pressure of the legsof hairpin spring 88 in detent 87.

With a reversal of fluid connections to traction cylinder 42, the piston45 and rod 44 will now move to the left, until the reversing plateengages spring 91, secured by adjustment nut 92 to the reversing rod.Continued movement of rod 44 builds up pressure in spring 91 eventuallycausing spring 88 to be connected out of spool detent 87 so that thespool snaps back to the illustrated position.

Nuts 85 and 92 can be adjusted on reversing rod 82 to vary the length ofstroke in either direction as desired. The electric motor 12 is providedwith a line cord 93 adapted to be plugged into a suitable receptacle. Amanually operable switch 94 is provided for manual control of motoroperation. In addition, an automatic switch 95 controlled by timer 96 isprovided. When the timer 96 is set by the opera-tor, switch 95 is movedto closed position, and the timer starts into operation. At the end ofthe desired time, the timer moves switch 95 to open position todisconnect the motor 12 and the timer 96.

In operation of the apparatus the traction device is wheeled up to ahospital bed 101, the line cord 93 is plugged into a power source andswitch 94 or 95 is closed.

Motor 12 is energized to drive pump 13. When hydaulic pressure in line53 exceeds the setting of relief valve 61, the pump discharge may flowtherethrough back into reservoir 14. The elevating valve 58 is nowmanipulated to adjust the height of the upper frame portion so that thebumper and traction rods are at a desired height relative to the bed andpatient 102. Bumper valve 59 is preferably manipulated so that thebumper rod moves into the bumper cylinder 37. The motor is then turnedoff and the machine is pushed by the operator over to the bed 101 untilthe bumper 41 engages the bed.

The traction harness 103 is fitted onto the patient and is secured tothe eye 46 of the traction rod 44. Clock 96 is set to the desired lengthof treatment, closing switch and starting up the motor and pump. Thetraction rod will automatically reciprocate as long as pump 13 is inoperation. The operator will now manipulate the bumper control valve 58so that pressure is exerted on the bumper piston and rod to push theentire machine 10 away from the bed, causing tension to be applied tothe traction harness 102. The pressure gauge 75 will measure thehydraulic pressure in the right end of bumper cylinder 37 which, whenvalve 59 is closed, will be a direct measure of the tension in thetraction harness. The dial of gauge 75 will be suitably calibrated inpounds of tension so that the operator can tell immediately how muchtension is being applied to the patient.

When the maximum tension is at a desired amount, valve 59 is leftclosed, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and the traction rod will reciprocateas long as pump 13 is activated. When the time of treatment is up, theclock 96 will open switch 95 to turn off the motor and pump.

Very significant advantages are obtained by the use of a hydraulicallyoperated traction rod. When the body is subjected to intermittenttraction it is highly desirable that the traction tension be built up assmoothly and uniformly as possible. Any sudden jerk or change in tensionwill cause discomfort, running from relatively mild to quite severe, inthe patient. In the present invention the fluid pressure against thetraction piston produced by pump 13 will 'be uniformly constant over theentire length of the stroke, causing the piston and traction rod to moveat a uniform rate throughout the stroke. The use of hydraulic force alsoeliminates any jerky motion which usually exists when mechanical powertransmitting means, such as cams, levers, gears, etc., are used betweenthe power source and a traction harness.

In addition to producing the greatest degree of comfort possible to thepatient, the use of hydraulic operation makes the machine much moreconvenient for the operator to use. All of the controls can be easilylocated on the top surface of the machine in close adjacency to oneanother since the hydraulic lines and electric power lines can beextended between the valves and switches in the control panel and thedevices operated thereby without the ditficulties that would beencountered if mechanical elements were used for operation. With thepresent machine the operator can control the following operations at thecontrol panel: he can turn the machine on or off manually, or set suchoperation for automatic timing; he can adjust the height of the bumperand traction rods; he can adjust the tension in the traction harness byoperating the bumper rod; and he can note the exact tension in thetraction harness at any time.

When not in use, the machine can be moved easily and stored in a smallspace. The minimum number of moving parts in the device greatlysimplifies the main tenance of the machine and also eliminates much ofthe mechanical noise which would otherwise be disturbing to a patient.

It is to be realized that the apparatus herein shown and described is apreferred embodiment of the invention and that various changes may bemade in the shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the attached claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. An exercise device adapted to be used with an exercise tablecomprising a traction cylinder, a piston disposed in said cylinder forreciprocating movement therein, a piston rod secured to said piston formovement therewith, means on said piston for securing an exerciseharness thereto, a fluid pump, means fluidly connecting the discharge ofsaid pump to one end of said traction cylinder and fluidly connectingthe other end of said cylinder to the intake of said pump whereby pumppressure will cause movement of said piston and rod, means forperiodically reversing the fluid connection of said pump to saidcylinder to reverse the direction of said piston and rod, and means forholding said traction cylin der at a desired distance from said exercisetable comprising a cylinder member and a piston member disposed in saidcylinder member for reciprocating movement therein, one of said cylinderand piston members being engageable with said exercise table, meansmounting the other of said cylinder and piston members in fixed relationto said traction cylinder, means reversibly fluidly connecting said pumpdischarge to one end of said cylinder member and reversibly fluidlyconnecting the other end of said cylinder member to said pump intake,and means for shutting off fluid flow to and from both ends of saidcylinder member.

2. A traction device comprising: a frame adapted to rest on a floorsurface; a traction cylinder mounted on said frame, a piston disposed insaid cylinder for reciprocating movement therein, a piston rod securedto said piston for movement therewith, means on said piston rod forsecuring a traction harness thereto; a fluid pump; means fluidlyconnecting the discharge of said pump to one end of said cylinder andfluidly connecting the other end of said cylinder to the intake side ofsaid pump whereby pump pressure will cause movement of said piston androd; means responsive to a predetermined amount of said piston and rodmovement for reversing the fluid connection of said cylinder to saidpump to reverse the direction of movement of said piston and rod; bumpermeans mounted on said frame for engaging a traction table to hold saidframe a desired distance from said table, said bumper means comprising acylinder mounted on said frame, a piston mounted in said bumper cylinderfor reciprocating movement therein; a bumper rod connected at one end tosaid bumper piston and adapted to engage said traction table at itsother end; means reversibly fluidly connecting said pump discharge toone end of said bumper cylinder and reversibly fluidly connecting theother end of said bumper cylinder to said pump intake, and means forshutting off fluid flow to and from both ends of said bumper cylinder.

3. A traction device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bumper rodextends through one end of said bumper cylinder and further including apressure gauge connected to the other end of said bumper cylinder.

4. A traction device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said framecomprises a base portion and an upper portion telescopically connectedto each other, and wherein said bumper and traction cylinders aremounted to said upper frame portion, an elevating cylinder mounted onone of said frame portions, a piston mounted for reciprocating movementin said elevating cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston andthe other frame portion, means reversibly fluidly connecting said pumpdischarge to one end of said elevating cylinder and reversibly fluidlyconnecting the other end of said elevating cylinder to said pump intake,and means for shutting off fluid flow to and from both ends of saidelevating cylinder.

5. A traction device comprising: a frame adapted to rest on a floorsurface; a traction cylinder mounted on said frame, a piston disposed insaid cylinder for reciprocating movement therein, a piston rod securedto said piston for movement therewith, means on said piston rod forsecuring a traction harness thereto; a fluid reservoir disposed on saidframe; a fluid pump having its intake fluidly connected to saidreservoir; means including a four way valve for fluidly connecting thedischarge of said pump to one end of said cylinder and for fluidlyconnecting the other end of said cylinder to said reservoir when saidvalve is in a first position and for reversing the fluid connections tothe ends of said cylinder when said valve is in a second position; meansresponsive to a predetermined amount of movement of said piston and rodin each direction for moving said valve from one position to the otherto reverse the direction of movement of said piston and rod; bumpermeans mounted on said frame for engaging a traction table to hold saidframe a desired distance from said table, said bumper means comprising acylinder mounted on said frame, a piston mounted in said bumper cylinderfor reciprocating movement therein, a bumper rod connected at one end tosaid bumper piston and adapted to engage said traction table at itsother end; means including a second manually-operable four-way valve forfluidly connecting said pump discharge to one end of said bumpercylinder and for fluidly connecting the other end of said bumpercylinder to said reservoir when said second valve is in a first positionand for reversing the fluid connections to the ends of said bumpercylinder when said second valve is in a second position, said secondvalve having a third position shutting off fluid flow to and from bothends of said bumper cylinder; and wherein said traction and bumper rodsare parallel to each other.

6. A traction device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said bumper rodextends through one end of said bumper cylinder and further including apressure gauge connected to the other end of said bumper cylinder.

17. A traction device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said framecomprises a base portion and an upper portion telescopically connectedto each other, and wherein said bumper and traction cylinders aremounted to said upper frame portion, a generally vertically disposedelevating cylinder mounted on one of said frame portions, a pistonmounted for reciprocating movement in said elevating cylinder, a pistonrod connected to said piston and the other frame portion, meansincluding a third manuallyoperable four-way valve for fluidly connectingsaid pump discharge to one end of said elevating cylinder and forfluidly connecting the other end of said elevating cylinder to saidreservoir when said third valve is in a first position and for reversingthe fluid connections to the ends of said elevating cylinder when saidthird valve is in a second position, said third valve having a thirdposition shutting off fluid flow to and from both ends of said elevatingcylinder.

8. A traction device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said bumper rodextends through one end of said bumper cylinder and further including apressure gauge fluidly connected to the other end of said bumpercylinder, a control panel mounted on the upper part of said frame andwherein said second and third valve and said pressure gauge are mountedon said control panel in close adjacency to each other.

Zur Nieden Dec. 11, 1956 Rabjohn Oct. 27, 1959

2. A TRACTION DEVICE COMPRISING: A FRAME ADAPTED TO REST ON A FLOORSURFACE; A TRACTION CYLINDER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A PISTON DISPOSED INSAID CYLINDER FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT THEREIN, A PISTON ROD SECUREDTO SAID PISTON FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, MEANS ON SAID PISTON ROD FORSECURING A TRACTION HARNESS THERETO; A FLUID PUMP; MEANS FLUIDLYCONNECTING THE DISCHARGE OF SAID PUMP TO ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER ANDFLUIDLY CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF SAID CYLINDER TO THE INTAKE SIDE OFSAID PUMP WHEREBY PUMP PRESSURE WILL CAUSE MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON ANDROD; MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF SAID PISTON AND RODMOVEMENT FOR REVERSING THE FLUID CONNECTION OF SAID CYLINDER TO SAIDPUMP TO REVERSE THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON AND ROD; BUMPERMEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR ENGAGING A TRACTION TABLE TO HOLD SAIDFRAME A DESIRED DISTANCE FROM SAID TABLE, SAID BUMPER MEANS COMPRISING ACYLINDER SAID TABLE, SAID BUMPER MEANS COMPRISING A CYLINDER MOUNTED ONSAID FRAME, A PISTON MOUNTED IN SAID BUMPER CYLINDER FOR RECIPROCATINGMOVEMENT THEREIN; A BUMPER